Workers Comp Attorneys in Gardendale, Alabama

Suffering an injury on the job can be very painful and stressful, especially for someone who is a primary breadwinner in the household. A work-related injury can mean having to stay home for several weeks or months, which can put a major financial strain on the entire family. The path to recovery can also be very challenging, especially with a more moderate to severe injury. On top of everything else, Alabama employers and their insurers make the workers’ compensation process far more complicated and confusing than it should be.

The workers’ compensation system was set up in order to make it easier for injured workers to get reimbursed for the monetary losses they incur because of their injuries. Gardendale area employees should be eligible for workers’ comp benefits as long as the injury or illness they are suffering from was “work-related”, and regardless of who was at fault. In exchange for no-fault benefits, employers are generally given immunity from liability, which means a worker is usually unable to file a personal injury lawsuit against an Alabama employer.

This is how the workers’ compensation system is supposed to work, but unfortunately, it is almost never a smooth and seamless process. Workers’ comp insurers are known for denying claims for no legitimate reason and/or putting up barriers that seem designed to frustrate workers into giving up on the benefits that they deserve. If you have been injured at work and you are confused by the workers’ comp claims process and/or your claim has been denied, it is time to seek legal help.

At Burge & Burge, we have several decades of experience helping workers’ compensation claimants in the Gardendale area recover maximum benefits. Our lawyers have extensive knowledge of the Alabama workers’ comp laws, and we go up against insurance carriers with confidence knowing that we have the facts and the law on our side. We fight hard on behalf of our clients, because we understand the difference it makes in their lives (and the lives of their loved ones) when they are able to receive the level of benefits that they are entitled to.

We also understand that there are typically a number of different factors that contribute to workplace injuries, and our scope is not limited solely to pursuing a Gardendale workers’ compensation claim. Our depth of knowledge with a wide range of personal injury cases allows us to examine the whole picture and look at other potential legal avenues that our clients may have. For example, if your injury was caused by an outside party (other than your employer or a co-worker), then you may be able to file a personal injury claim directly against the responsible party.

Common Workplace Accidents in Gardendale, AL

There are a number of different accidents and incidents that commonly cause workplace injuries, such as:

• Slips and Falls: Slips, trips, and falls happen frequently in the workplace. These can be caused by hazards like wet and slippery substances on the floors, uneven surfaces, materials and debris that is left in a walkway, faulty ladders, and many others.

• Struck By/Struck Against Events: A busy and hectic workplace can often lead to employees getting struck by hard objects or getting thrown into hard surfaces. These incidents usually occur because of disorganization, poor supervision, or similar issues.

• Equipment/Machinery Accidents: Gardendale workers handle numerous different types of equipment and machinery, depending on what industry they are in. But sometimes, a worker can get injured because of careless use of this equipment or because of a malfunction that could be caused by lack of adequate maintenance and/or a product defect.

• Overexertion Injuries: In many industries, workers are subjected to hard physical labor. But when these workers are under stress because of staffing shortages, a fast-paced work environment, and similar conditions, they can end up with injuries to their back and other areas of the body caused by overexertion.

• Repetitive Strain Injuries: Oftentimes, workplace injuries do not happen because of a one-time event, but rather because of repetitive work that is done over a period of time. Repetitive strain injuries can sometimes be prevented if employees are allowed to take frequent breaks, but this is not always possible in work settings where there are staffing shortages.

• Transportation Accidents: Depending on the type of work, auto crashes are a common cause of workplace injuries. Transportation accidents can also happen with other types of vehicles, such as aircraft, railcars, bicycles, and boats.

• Exposure to Harmful Substances: Workers who work with hazardous chemicals and other dangerous substances risk injuries and illnesses that can result from overexposure to these substances.

If a Gardendale area employee qualifies for workers’ compensation, they can receive benefits for:

• Medical expenses
• Two-thirds of the employee’s lost earnings
• Rehabilitation and retraining costs
• Permanent injury
• Death benefits

Unfortunately, the workers’ comp system does not allow for recovery of compensation for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering and emotional distress. However, an injured worker may be able to recover damages for these losses if they have a viable personal injury claim against a third party.

Gardendale Workplace Injury Claims Against Outside Parties

In a significant number of cases, there may be a third party that holds at least some responsibility for a work-related injury. Here are some common scenarios in which this might apply:

• An employee gets into a vehicle accident while on the job that is the fault of another driver.
• An employee is injured at work because of the negligent or reckless actions of a third-party subcontractor who is performing some tasks on site.
• An employee suffers a workplace injury caused by equipment that has an inherent design and/or manufacturing defect.
• An employee gets hurt while on someone else’s property because of hazardous conditions on that property.

Every case is different, and there are always unique circumstances that must be examined. A thorough investigation will allow our legal team to determine the root cause of your workplace injury and what factors contributed to it. From there, we will know what legal options you may have beyond just filing a workers’ compensation claim.

Contact a Seasoned Gardendale, AL Workers’ Compensation Attorney

To get started on your Alabama workplace injury claim, contact Burge & Burge today by calling 205-251-9000 or sending us an online message. We look forward to serving you!